CVE-2011-3852 in EvoLve
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the EvoLve theme before 1.2.6 for WordPress allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the s parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2025
The CVE-2011-3852 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the EvoLve WordPress theme affecting versions prior to 1.2.6. This vulnerability resides in the theme's handling of user input through the s parameter, which is commonly used for search functionality within WordPress installations. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser session, potentially compromising user security and data integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the EvoLve theme's search processing mechanism. When users submit search queries through the theme's interface, the s parameter containing user-supplied content is not properly escaped or filtered before being rendered back to the browser. This creates an environment where attackers can inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML payloads that execute in the context of legitimate users who visit affected pages. The vulnerability specifically maps to CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is sent to a web browser without proper validation or escaping, allowing malicious scripts to be executed.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to WordPress site administrators and their users. Attackers can leverage this flaw to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, deface websites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The impact extends beyond simple script injection as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft, privilege escalation, or data exfiltration. The vulnerability affects any WordPress installation using the EvoLve theme version 1.2.5 or earlier, making it particularly concerning given the widespread adoption of WordPress and its themes in enterprise and organizational environments.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 sub-technique for script injection attacks. Attackers typically craft malicious payloads containing JavaScript that can be executed in the victim's browser context, potentially leveraging the session tokens to impersonate users. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation at multiple layers of application security, as it highlights how theme-level flaws can create persistent security risks even when core WordPress systems are properly configured. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to EvoLve theme version 1.2.6 or later, implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious input, and conducting security assessments to identify other potentially vulnerable components within their WordPress installations. The remediation process should also include monitoring for signs of exploitation attempts and ensuring that all WordPress themes and plugins maintain current security updates to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future.